New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)Hudson, G. V. (George Vernon)
Science
New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)
Hudson, G. V. (George Vernon)
Lepidoptera -- New Zealand
On the upper side this species can only be distinguished from the
preceding by its somewhat brighter colour, and by the cilia which are
more sharply barred with brown. _On the under side the whole of the
fore-wings, and the central portions of the hind-wings between the outer
and inner series of spots, are much darker and browner than in L.
phoebe_; the spots themselves are also considerably darker, and the
central series of the hind-wings is almost black. A careful examination,
however, shows that the markings are practically identical in both
species, although of different degrees of {120}intensity. In view of the
great variability, which many species of this genus are known to exhibit
in other countries, I am inclined to think that this butterfly's claim to
specific distinction is a very slender one.
The perfect insect may be taken in similar situations to _Lycæna phoebe_.
REPUTED NEW ZEALAND BUTTERFLIES.
The following species are recorded by various observers as having occurred
in New Zealand. In nearly every case they are only represented by single
specimens. They cannot, in my opinion, be regarded as properly belonging to
the fauna:--
1. HAMADRYAS ZOILUS,[59] Fabr.
The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. On the upper side all the wings are
black, becoming brown towards the base; the fore-wings have three dull
white spots near the apex; the hind-wings have the whole of the central
portions white.
Stated by Dieffenbach to occur in New Zealand, probably in error, as it has
not since been observed. An Australian species. Mr. W. W. Smith, however,
informs me, that his eldest son recently saw near Ashburton a specimen of
what he believed to be this butterfly; but as he was unable to capture it
he cannot speak with any degree of certainty.
2. EUPLOÆ ---- sp?
The expansion of the wings is 2¾ inches. On the upper side all the wings
are dull, brownish-black, with a series of large white terminal spots.
Two or three specimens of this insect are stated by Mr. T. W. Kirk to have
been taken near Flat Point on the east coast of the North Island, but no
further details are forthcoming. The late Mr. Olliff, to whom I forwarded a
sketch of the insect, informed me that it was not represented in the Sydney
collections of Australian and South Sea Island butterflies, but he thought
it might be a Malayan species of _Euploæ_.
3. VANESSA ATALANTA,[60] L.
The expansion of the wings is from 2½ to 2¾ inches. "The fore-wings are
black, with a broad deep red central band, and with one large and five
small white spots near the apex. The hind-wings are black, with a broad
deep red band at the termen, in which are four black spots; at the tornus
is a large blue-and-black spot."[61]
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